Total Benefits

Hometown Home Loan program

Get discounts on mortgage fees and advice from home-buying experts with the Hometown Home Loan program, a benefit offered to UW employees through a partnership with HomeStreet Bank.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or seasoned homeowner, get your mortgage questions answered during a free, one-on-one meeting with a HomeStreet loan officer or attend seminars and classes, which are also free and held throughout the year. Then, when you’re ready to buy a home, the reduced closing costs and fees offered through the Hometown Home Loan program can save you thousands.

Seminars and classes

Learn from the experts by attending a free seminar or class offered through the Hometown Home Loan program. Seminars are held on a regular basis at various UW locations while the first-time homebuyer class is typically held at HomeStreet Bank’s downtown Seattle office.

Home-buying discounts and resources

Reduced closing costs and fees: Your Hometown Home Loan discounts are available to you exclusively through HomeStreet Bank’s Affinity Lending Center. When you get your home loan through the center, you’ll receive a credit worth 0.50 percent the value of your loan. On a $200,000 loan, for example, that credit’s worth $1,000. You can use that credit on closing costs, refinances, construction loans, and more.

Meet with a home loan officer: As you prepare to buy a home, one of the first steps is to meet with a loan officer and get pre-qualified. Based on your finances and the current housing market, a pre-qualification appointment gives you a realistic idea of what you can afford right now or how much you need to save.

The appointment is private, and you’re welcome to bring your spouse, partner, or potential co-signer.

Loan reviews and refinancing options: Does your current mortgage meet your needs? Both property values and interest rates change often, so it’s important to periodically review your home loan. The loan officers at HomeStreet Bank are available to help you explore your options and make sure you have a loan that works well for you.

Home improvement fair: Each spring mark your calendar for the UW Home Improvement fair. This free, day-long event features local contractors, interior designers, gardening experts, architects, realtors, and representatives from HomeStreet Bank and nonprofit housing resources.

Downtown Tacoma homes: In partnership with Tacoma’s Downtown: On the Go, HomeStreet Bank can help you save money when you buy a home in downtown Tacoma. You get exclusive pre-negotiated discounts on closing costs with loan officers, realtors, home inspectors, and escrow companies.

Help saving for a down payment: If your income is 80 percent or less of the area’s median income, HomeStreet Bank will help you save for your first home by contributing $3 for each dollar you save, up to $5,000.